Copyright Anchorage Daily News
Several dozen Alaska women traveled to the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference in September. We’re excited both to strategize about strengthening our industry — construction — and to celebrate progress in supporting families with a new maternity leave benefit funded by the Laborers’ Union. Two years ago, several of us participated in the first Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference. Construction laborers from across the United States and Canada participated. We discussed policies and programs that could strengthen our industry. One issue we discussed at length was how a lack of maternity leave has forced generations of women out of construction. It makes no sense. We should be building American power, but we can’t build this country to its full potential if we’re only using the skills and strength of half the workforce. Historically, a paltry 3% of the construction workforce is female. Our union apprenticeship programs far outperform that, with about four times more women than the industry as a whole. That’s still not good enough. When we convened as tradeswomen from across the country two years ago, after much discussion we identified a single top priority: maternity leave. Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Brent Booker (representing laborers from across North America) went back and ran the numbers, worked with affiliate unions and contractors, and implemented a paid maternity leave program. That is in effect today, and Alaska tradeswomen are reaping the benefits of the program. I’m a member of Laborers Local 341, and our first member to use the paid maternity leave program, Erin Rouse, had this to say about it: “This new benefit will allow me to feel secure that I can temporarily support my family while giving me peace of mind to look after myself and newborn stress free until I can get back to work. I am beyond grateful for this new benefit. Joining the Laborers’ Union has been the best decision I have ever made. I never thought I could earn so much financially, learn so many new skills and provide my family with health care.” I’m proud of our Alaska tradeswomen: laborers, Teamsters, operating engineers, electrical, sheet metal, ironworkers and finishing trades. We’re all in it together to build this state and nation. When we meet as tradeswomen from across the continent, we discuss what’s next for our union and working families. I hope that we all ask ourselves that question. At a time when Russia, China and North Korea are engaged in brazen hostilities, it’s all hands on deck for America. We’re unstoppable if we work together, but all too vulnerable if we are divided and believe that the enemy is one another. I believe the Tradeswomen program is a model: working together, collaborating and building a stronger industry that supports hard-working families. I hope you will join us in thinking about how we build a stronger industry, state and nation. Shea Taylor is a career construction laborer and member of Alaska Laborers Local 341.
